The NEC Classic Motor Show Sale 10th - 12th November 2023

The NEC Classic Motor Show Sale 2023 Cars 122 Registration: MVF 390M Chassis No.: BBECND20463 Estimate: £60,000 - £70,000 Specialist: Joseph Watts Telephone No: 07779 082707 Lot 202 1973 Ford Capri RS3100 Ford’s early success in the European Touring Car (ETC) Championship with the Capri RS2600 during the 1971 to 1973 seasons was at an end with the BMW 3.0 CSL (‘Batmobile’) soundly beating the Capri in the latter part of the 1973 season. With the FIA rule changes in mid-1973, allowing for road homologated wings to be used for racing, Ford commenced a program which led to the RS3100 road car, the homologation version of the Capri racer. With the RS2600 Weslake engine program having achieved the maximum possible output from the German 2.6-litre engine, Ford switched to the ‘Essex’ 3-litre V6 engine with Cosworth given the job of producing a reliable racing engine from the unit. Ford agreed with Cosworth that a bored-out 3.1-litre engine was a good basis for the future racing engine; hence the birth of the Capri RS3100. RS3100 production began in November 1973 at Halewood, with very sketchy details of the model’s production run, however, by January 1974, the run had finished with only 248 RS3100s officially completed and all being right-hand drive. The RS3100 was homologated in January 1974 for the 1974 ETC season. The short run for the RS3100, which was based on the MK1 3000 GT, was in the main due to the overlap with the Capri Mk2 production due for release in February 1974. The RS3100 was an expensive road car at £2,450 and, with the mid-1970s oil crisis, the RS3100 was not a popular seller in a fuel-starved Britain. The RS3100’s suspension had a modified front cross-member to move suspension arms outwards to provide negative camber (-30’ +/- 30’), stiffer front springs combined with heavy duty Bilsten gas dampers, competition single leaf rear springs combined with uprated Bilsten gas dampers, special bump rubbers and spacer blocks. It shared its brakes and AVO 4-spoke alloy wheels with the RS2600, and, in appearance, it shared the later version RS2600 black quarter front bumpers, full-width black rear bumper and quad headlamps. The distinguishing features were the large matt black rear spoiler, front bib spoiler, dummy louvers, flared front arches and the unique colour schemes. The production run included: 60 Diamond White, 49 Daytona Yellow, 59 Sebring Red, 25 Modena Green, 20 Stardust Silver, 27 Olympic Blue and ten Marine Blue all with gold decals around the power bulge, rear panel and a triple line down the sides. Interior was straight out of the UK 3000 GXL with a 130mph speedo fitted. The car presented here is 1 of 27 examples produced in striking Olympic Blue and has a superb history with the RS3100 Owners Club; it used to belong to a good friend of the late Len Pierce, the well-respected Capri RS expert. Our Ford-aficionado vendor bought the car in 2017 and describes it as being ‘amazingly original’, benefiting from some recommissioning done by the previous owner - who actually PDI’d the car at the supplying Ford dealership in Norfolk as a young apprentice! He was just the 3rd owner and enjoyed it for 30 years. Unsurprisingly, in 2021, it won an RS3100 Owners Club award presented in Len Pierce’s honour, soon after his passing, voted for by all the members. It goes without saying that its chassis/engine number are all correct, likewise its chassis plates. In excellent condition, but still regularly used and enjoyed - and better for it - this very special car was the specific example selected by Corgi to be represent the RS3100 model, no small accolade! The rare RS3100, the homologation version of the Capri racer of the day; Cosworth-developed V6 engine, ‘ducktail’ spoiler and unique colour schemes - quite a recipe! A best-of-breed, award-winning example, immortalised as a Corgi model. More Details Lot 202 Bid On Lot 202